Peachtree City retreat focuses on SPLOST paths, splash pad decision, city projects and fiscal options

Peachtree CityCouncil and staff spent a full-day retreat reviewing the cityprograms and capital projects, prioritizing several path projects funded by the 2017 SPLOST and discussing near-term choices on a splash pad, City Hall renovations, a purchased police training facility and long-term lake dredging.

Council and staff opened the session with a set of project reviews that led the discussion toward three recurring themes: how to finish SPLOST-funded path projects whose 2017 cost estimates have been overtaken by inflation; how to balance one-time capital needs against the cityfund balance; and whether to move forward now with a new Pebble Pocket splash pad or use an interim fix to make the Glen Loch splash pad free this summer.

SPLOST paths and funding

A cluster of path projects tied to the 2017 SPLOST dominated the early agenda. Staff updated council on multiple specific corridors: - Carriage Lane to the Publix cart path: staff said design work and GDOT coordination are the current priorities, and the biggest uncertainty is whether the full path can be built within the state right-of-way or whether cemetery land acquisition would be required. If cemetery land is needed the project cost could rise substantially; earlier concept estimates that assumed cemetery easements were over $1 million. Stormwater impacts at the Carriage Lane/Highway 54 corner also complicate the horizontal fit of a cart path in that corridor. - North Hill path: the council heard that the North Hill section is in design and staff expects to advertise for bids in spring; the design will relocate the path closer to North Parkway to avoid steep interior grades. Staff said SPLOST 2017 surplus funds plus impact fees were expected to cover part of the cost but that current concept estimates exceed the original $215,000 placeholder. - Paschal / Highway 74 corridor and railroad crossing: staff said a cart-path concept that would cross CSX right-of-way has stalled because CSX declined to allow a golf-cart width crossing; the railroadowner told staff it will accept a 5-foot pedestrian crossing but not a 10-foot cart path. Going under or over the railroad would be costly and likely infeasible at current budgets. - Walt Banks / North Peachtree Parkway: the project is near 90% design, will require right-of-way acquisition and retaining walls, and staff warned the corner owners have been strongly opposed; acquisition could lead to condemnation and multi-year timing.

On SPLOST funding overall staff reported remaining balances for the 2017 program but emphasized that many 2017 line items were…